This is the story of the journey of my life. Travel can be hard work. So much to see. So little time. So many missed connections. So much lost luggage. But every stop, every detour, every challenge along the way provides a lesson to be learned. Traveling mercies to us all.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

In quietness and trust

Isaiah 30:15 says -

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:"In repentance and rest is your salvation,in quietness and trust is your strength,but you would have none of it."

This afternoon, as I watch my beloved Peyton Manning play Denver Broncos football
while wearing the Peyton Manning jersey I received for my birthday, (Go, Peyton!!!)
as I eat the last half of the mini key lime tart my husband gave me on my birthday,
as I read today's reading in Behold: Cultivating Attentiveness in the Season of Advent,
as I ponder the many blessings and greetings that have arrived in my mailbox, my inbox,
and delivered in person - including the aforementioned Advent book,

in quietness and trust, I give thanks for the many blessings in my life, for my family, friends, our home, for tea, for fruit dipped in chocolate, for tear-soaked times of prayer, for poetry, for photography.

in quietness and trust, I rejoice with those whose lives are joy-filled and grace-filled - those with new babies, impending nuptials, new job opportunities, straight As in school, and children who have returned home safely from college and study abroad.

in quietness and trust, I prepare myself for tomorrow, my second healing therapy session.
by this time tomorrow, in the mid-afternoon hours, I will be back at home, recovering.
in quietness and strength, I will do all within my power to make tomorrow a good day.
in quietness and trust, I will find the strength to bear all that is yet to come.

the last part of that verse, the part that says, "but you would have none of it,"
that part does not and will not apply to me.

I will have all of it:
repentance for all the wrong I have done - and there has been much wrong.
rest before, during, and after tomorrow's healing treatment.
quietness within and without.
trust that all shall be well. deep trust.
trust that will remain steady before, during, and after the many tears that will surely flow.

in repentance and rest will be my salvation.
in quietness and trust will be my strength.

may God have mercy on us all, on Newtown in particular, and also on me.

******************

Yesterday, my daughter and I had a photo shoot with one of her friends,
a gifted young man named Graham Morrison.
Here are a few of the photos he took.

About Me

If you will allow me, I will quote The Count of Monte Cristo: "I'm a writer, not a saint. I'm imperfect, and so are my writings. These are my spiritual yearnings and tainted expressions of love, hacked as best I can onto thin sheets of wood pulp (or in my case, onto a thin keyboard), in a fallen world, with my flawed perceptions, feelings, desires, and misguided intentions. In a nutshell, this is me; live with it. Don't read this unless you really want to see all of me, even the not-so-pretty parts. But if you really want to know me, keep on reading."